In a stunning upset at UFC 322, Leon Edwards suffered a brutal knockout at the hands of Carlos Prates at Madison Square Garden.
Edwards, who entered the fight under pressure with a two-fight losing streak, was unable to recover once Prates landed a decisive straight left that ended the contest.
The first round was competitive, with Edwards used his grappling effectively, staying composed and landing several strikes.
Late in the round, he nearly secured a submission attempt, forcing Prates to defend carefully and survive the closing moments before heading to his corner at the break.
In the second round, Prates came back strongly. He adjusted his striking, timing a clean straight left that connected flush, sending Edwards to the canvas.
The referee immediately stopped the fight before Edwards received medical attention in the octagon and was assisted to the locker room.
The victory is a major step forward for Carlos Prates, confirming his rising status in the division and as a major contender for the welterweight title.
For Edwards, the loss adds further pressure as he seeks to recover from a difficult period in his career and reassess his position among welterweight contenders.
Prior to his defeat at Madison Square Garden, Edwards had been submitted by Sean Brady and fell to a decision defeat to Belal Muhammad.
However, his defeat to Prates was far more significant as it marked the first time that Edwards had been knocked out during his entire mixed martial arts career.
It now leaves ‘Rocky’ in an interesting situation, with the British star in danger of being left behind by the stacked welterweight division.
Just one fight later, Michael Morales produced an emphatic performance and knocked out Sean Brady, who defeated Edwards in his most recent fight before that.
And, next weekend, Belal Muhammad will face Ian Garry in a fight that will likely settle which welterweight gets a shot at the title next.
